Beach umbrella table

ABSTRACT

A quick-adjustment, self-protective beach umbrella tray with a central sleeve having special means for fitting umbrella shafts, including in various embodiments spring retention with and without cooperative thimble inserts. The table is provided with recesses for receiving sundry articles and in one embodiment with stiffening ribs.

O Umted States Patent 1111 3,624,732

[72] Inventor Lloyd N. Bowden 2,805,109 9/1957 Kopmar 108/25 204HeadlngtonCourt, Tlmonlum, Md. 2,765,999 10/1956 Baker 248/246X [21]AppLNo. 38,925 930,406 8/1909 McDonald 248/ 188.5 [22] Filed May20, 19703,167,292 l/1965 Meyerowitz... 248/161 X [45] Patented Nov. 30,19713,245,365 4/1966 Doherty 248/246 X 1,107,075 8/1914 Karges 248/414 X2,190,222 2/1940 Strasser 108/148 X 1 1 BEACH UMBRELLA TABLE 3,424,111l/l969 Maslow..... 248/412 whimm s e 1,156,083 10/1915 Karges... 248/414[52] U.S.Cl 108/50, 3,940 2/ 1966 Tooley 108/25 X 248/414 PrimaryExaminer-Francis K. Zugel [51] Ill. Cl "A471! 37/04 Anomey john F c n SL[50] Field Search 103/50, 152, 151, 149, 148, 106, 144, 22, 20; 248/414,

412, 161,411, 244, 245, 246, 188.5 ABSTRACT: A quick-adjustment,self-protective beach umbrella tray with a central sleeve having specialmeans for 1 Rehnlmcm fitting umbrella shafts, including in variousembodiments UNITED STATES PATENTS spring retention with and withoutcooperative thimble inserts.

2971,656 2/1961 Shofi'ner 10s/27x The labk isvwvided withmeswsforreceivins sundry clesandinoneembodimentwithstiffeningribs.

! l I l X L 1 l I I L.... b 1,- J U C 4 2a 30 W Z 22 \Mi M PATENTEDuuv30 I9" INVENTOR LLOYD N. BOWDEN FIG. 3

ATTORNEY BEACH UMBRELLA TABLE This invention relates generally totables, and specifically to tables or tray attachments for beachumbrellas.

Such attachments are used to adapt beach umbrellas for supportingobjects under shelter.

Among the objects supported are cigarette packages, liquid refreshmentsin bottles or glasses, sunglasses, purses, and the like. The objects aresheltered by the canopy of the umbrella from sun and sudden showers, andby the tray structure from sand, loss, and from the damage to whichdelicate or perishable objects would be exposed if left on the sand, oron spread towels.

Ideally a beach umbrella tray or table attachment should be cheap enoughfor discard after a few uses, but sturdy enough to last several seasons.It should be functionally effective to promote relaxation, notexasperation, in the user. It should grip the umbrella structure withoutnecessity for complex fittings, it should be flexibly adjustable forplural uses, convenient, self-protective, and attractive.

In the past, various tables have been disclosed which answer one or moreof these requirements, but in general all have been relativelyinconvenient to adjust, inflexible in use, complex, and expensive. As aresult, most people have never seen one of these devices in use on thebeach, despite the commercial potential inherent in the general concept.

Objects therefore of the present invention are to provide a simple,cheap-to-manufacture, easy-to-use, versatile, attractive durable beachumbrella tray or table which will make available to millions of people aconvenience on the beach long needed but never practically realized, andwhich will be easily disposable when no longer needed. I embody thisinvention in a rimmed circular tray or table having recesses for objectsheld and an integral central sleeve for encircling the shaft of a beachumbrella and gripping it tangentially with a spring or springs affixedto the sleeve.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become morereadily apparent from the following description, including the drawingsin which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation, partially in section, of an embodiment of myinvention in use in typical surroundings;

FIG. 2 is a section of a sleeve assembly of an embodiment of myinvention gripping an umbrella shaft;

FIG. 3 is a section of a detail in elevation of a bodiment of myinvention; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective of a further embodiment of my invention in use.

Now referring in detail to the Figures, FIG. I shows an embodiment I ofmy table invention in use, supported by a beach umbrella having a shaftS embedded in sand of a beach B. The table consists of a circular or apolygonal flat surface 16 having an upstanding rim 18 around theperiphery. A sleeve or hub 20 centrally integral with the table surfacereceives shaft S of the umbrella. One wall of the sleeve has an opening22 through it, communicating from the outside of the sleeve through tothe bore 34.

A flat strip spring 24 is afiixed to the lower end of the sleeve as by arivet 26 and passes to the bore of the sleeve through opening 22. In thebore, spring 24 engages shaft S of the umbrella under heavy springpressure, supporting the table by friction. The upper end 28 of thespring is free, and is recurved to the exterior of the sleeve, where itsafely presses against the under surface of the table.

Shaped recesses 30 for liquid containers L are provided at regularintervals about the center of the table, and protruded below the bottomsurface of the table as shown. Similar recesses 32 may be provided fortobacco containers T, lotions, and the like.

This structure offers many advantages over the clamps and screws of theprior art. First of all, the table can be made of lighter and cheapermaterials than if it were rigidly aflixed to the shaft. If someoneattempts to overload it with a heavy object such as a large chest ofice, the table does not bend or break. It simply yields under the loadand slides down the shaft, eventually coming to rest on the sand, whereit is sup further emported in part by the protrusions 30, so thatpossibility for damage is minimized.

The spring mechanism is simple and unaffected by sand. since there areno metal-to-metal working parts such as screws and nuts. For thisreason, installation of the table on the shaft can be very easy. Thetable can be laid directly on the sand (with contents in place ifdesired) and the shaft forced downward through the sleeve.

Height adjustment of the table on the shaft, such as necessary for theconvenience of a user who changes from an upright position in a chair Cto a reclining position, requiring a low table position as indicated bythe phantom outline at a, is very easy. This is merely a matter ofsliding the table to the height required. A similar very useful changein height in the other direction can be made quickly and easily also.When the users decide to go into the water or elsewhere, leaving theirdrinks, cigarettes, sunglasses, lotions, keys, and the like unattended,they can simply slide the table up under the canopy of the umbrella U.Phantom outline b indicates this position. Small children, vandals,dogs, etc. will be less able and less tempted to interfere with thepossessions on the table in the extreme upward location and wind andsand are less problem.

Some variation in shaft size among beach umbrellas of different designsis to be expected. For example, friction hinges H are often larger indiameter than the shafts S and S, which are hinged together.

To avoid misfits and jams, I prefer to make the bore 34 of sleeve 20oversize, and the spring design shown in FIG. I automaticallyaccommodates protrusions such as hinges, and tightens on smaller shafts.

FIG. 2, a section through the top of an opening 222, looking down, showsprovision of a second spring 224' at an acute angle about shaft S tospring 224. This three-point contact arrangement assures a reliablesupport for the table, even with greatly undersize shafts. A furtherfeature of the invention will be seen also in FIG. 2. The springs maketangential contact with the circular section of the shaft and are guidedby the edges of openings 222, so that it is impossible for the edges ofthe springs to dig into the shafts. Thus, when a user wants a cigarettefrom the opposite side of the table, as in FIG. I. he simply rotates thetable to bring the object to him.

FIG. 3 shows an alternative provision for adapting the bore 334 of thesleeve 320 to fit small umbrella shafts. Thimble 336, which ispreferably of plastic, shims the table assembly, the bore 338 of thethimble being smaller than that of the sleeve 320 by a predeterminedamount.

Several of these thimbles of different sizes can be supplied for eachtable with little extra cost, if desired. The thimbles are not easilylost, once installed, since the engagement of spring 324 with the sides,top and bottom of slot 340 makes the thimble self-retaining. An enlargedupper rim 342 can be provided to make insertion and removal of thethimble easier, although this is not necessary.

As indicated at joint 360, the table surface 316 may be attached tosleeve 320 by screws 362, if the table surface and sleeve are ofdifferent materials, such as plastic and metal, or are otherwise notmolded of one piece or joined integrally.

FIG. 4 indicates additional advantages and structural features of myinvention. In FIG. 4 umbrella shaft S is inserted at an angle in thesand of beach B, as for shielding against a low sun. Even at this anglethe table does not require leveling, since liquid containers, such as L,are firmly held in the inserts 430 provided, and will not slide. Anyslight spillage is retained by rim 418.

Rim 418 in conjunction with radial struts 444 also greatly stiffens andstrengthens the table. Extreme stiffness of constructions is feasible,even with cheap brittle plastics. since no part of the plastic isrequired to flex to assure a tight fit on a shaft; spring 424 takes upthe slack as previously explained.

Materials suitable for making the table range from polyethylene throughmore rigid and brittle plastics to thingauge mild steel sheet. Aone-piece plastic molding is preferred for the table and sleeve. Sincethe spring is relatively small, plastic embodiments can be readilyincinerated for disposal when desired, leaving almost no residue.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present 3 inventionare possible in light of the above teachings. lt is,

therefore. to be understood that within the scope of the appended claimsthe invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

I claim:

1. A beach umbrella tray assembly comprising: table means; sleeve meansintegral with the table means; said sleeve means having a bore forreceiving an umbrella shaft and an opening through the wall into thebore; means integral with said assembly for resilient engagement with asaid beach umbrella shaft, including a flat spring vertically deployedfor tangential engagement of the width thereof with said beach umbrellashaft, one end of said spring being attached to the sleeve, the otherend of said spring being free and terminating exterior the sleeveproximate the underside of the table means, and a second said springsimilarly disposed in an opening in the sleeve at an acute angle aboutthe axis of the sleeve to the first said opening.

2. A beach umbrella tray assembly comprising: table means; sleeve meansintegral with the table means; said sleeve means having a bore forreceiving an umbrella shaft and an opening through the wall into thebore; means integral with said assembly for resilient engagement with asaid beach umbrella shaft including a fiat spring vertically deployedfor tangential engagement of the width thereof with said beach umbrellashaft, one end of said spring being attached to the sleeve, the otherend of said spring being free and terminating exterior the sleeveproximate the underside of the table means, and thimble means forinsertion in the upper end of said sleeve means for thereby reducing thesize of the bore in the sleeve means.

3. A beach umbrella tray assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein thethimble means has an opening through the wall thereof receiving saidspring therethrough.

4. A beach umbrella tray assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein one endof the thimble means is greater in radial dimension than said bore inthe sleeve.

1. A beach umbrella tray assembly comprising: table means; sleeve meansintegral with the table means; said sleeve means having a bore forreceiving an umbrella shaft and an opening through the wall into thebore; means integral with said assembly for resilient engagement with asaid beach umbrella shaft, including a flat spring vertically deployedfor tangential engagement of the width thereof with said beach umbrellashaft, one end of said spring being attached to the sleeve, the otherend of said spring being free and terminating exterior the sleeveproximate the underside of the table means, and a second said springsimilarly disposed in an opening in the sleeve at an acute angle aboutthe axis of the sleeve to the first said opening.
 2. A beach umbrellatray assembly comprising: table means; sleeve means integral with thetable means; said sleeve means having a bore for receiving an umbrellashaft and an opening through the wall into the bore; means integral withsaid assembly for resilient engagement with a said beach umbrella shaftincluding a flat spring vertically deployed for tangential engagement ofthe width thereof with said beach umbrella shaft, one end of said springbeing attached to the sleeve, the other end of said spring being freeand terminating exterior the sleeve proximate the underside of the tablemeans, and thimble means for insertion in the upper end of said sleevemeans for thereby reducing the size of the bore in the sleeve means. 3.A beach umbrella tray assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein thethimble means has an opening through the wall thereof receiving saidspring therethrough.
 4. A beach umbrella tray assembly as recited inclaim 2, wherein one end of the thimble means is greater in radialdimension than said bore in the sleeve.